Meet Maria Izzi, a rising freshman ready to attend Duke University in the fall. As part of their DukeEngage pre-college program, Maria volunteered with us, helping to improve the use, storage, and transfer of essential GIS data that will assist us in our mission to protect Northern Virginia’s lands and waters. In this Q&A, Maria […]

Press Release The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) has received $20,000 in grant funding from the Virginia Environment Endowment (VEE) to expand the organization’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) work in Northern Virginia. The grant provides an opportunity to invest in new partnerships and conservation efforts within communities that most need them. “With the […]

Our mission to Save Nearby Nature must be contagious as our four-week-long intern, Ellie Modlin-Unger, stepped in and fit without a hitch. In this Q&A, we sat down with Ellie to chat about her experience working with the team. By Aaron Kershaw Published August 13, 2021 Q: What were your expectations for this internship opportunity […]

Northern Virginia Conservation Trust has preserved a nearly 6-acre parcel of forested land in Clifton that protects a segment of Popes Head Creek. This beautiful tract in the Springfield District of Fairfax County is home to common mammals such as deer, raccoons, foxes, and opossums. Migratory birds, insects, and native plants are also thriving on […]

On Thursday, July 15, the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust teamed up with Devils Backbone Brewing Company for its second Canoe/Kayak Cleanup of Dyke Marsh in Fairfax County since June. Back-to-back cleanups have proven highly productive as the tidal wetland appeared much cleaner than the month prior. “We are so grateful to have groups like the […]

No one can be everywhere all at once, so land trusts must take a strategic approach when deciding where to focus their efforts, which takes planning, helpful technology, partnerships, and a general understanding of the complexities of your region. We sat down with Conservation Director Matt Gerhart to discuss how NVCT uses strategic conservation planning […]

I grew up in Newport News, VA, and I can’t ever remember anyone asking me to go on a hike. In fact, the phrase “take a hike” was the only time I ever heard of the activity, and I hilariously had to use context clues to have an idea of what it meant. This remained […]

On Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust held its first “NVCT Changemakers: Saving Nearby Nature At A Crossroads,” featuring a panel of eight elected officials and champions in conservation and environmental justice. The digital roundtable event sponsored by the White House Farm Foundation, LegalPerspectives LLC, and Gary and Vicky Kirkbride discussed the […]

On Sunday, June 13, the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) hosted their semi-annual Canoe/Kayak Cleanup of Hunting Creek and Dyke Marsh in Fairfax County by removing trash and debris from the tidal wetland that flows directly into the Potomac River and onto the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to NVCT’s staff, 25 dedicated community members volunteered […]

The lifelong Northern Virginian talks about her experiences growing up in the region, her role as a member of NVCT’s Board of Directors, and what inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility looks like in the world of conservation. By Aaron Kershaw Published: July 15, 2021 Q: Where are you from, and were you able to forge […]